Alex Marquez moves to KTM from 2027 – Gresini signs Mir and Holgado

Third MotoGP manufacturer for Marquez

At the same time, his four-year tenure at the Ducati customer team Gresini comes to an end. At the Italian squad, Alex Marquez had consistently fought for podium places in recent seasons and established himself as one of the most reliable riders in the field. With four Grand Prix victories, he also set accents that recommended him for a move to a factory team.

For the Italians, Joan Mir and Daniel Holgado will race through 2028 inclusive. Mir, a former world champion with Suzuki, brings experience from several factory teams, while Holgado is considered one of the biggest Moto3 talents. Gresini is thus setting the course for a longer-term lineup beyond the Marquez era.

Gresini banks on Mir and Holgado going forward

"Together we are pursuing a clear goal: to take the KTM RC16 to the next level and fight at the very front in MotoGP," KTM stated. The commitment to consistently top-level performance is to be underscored by combining an established Grand Prix winner with an emerging talent.

Pit Beirer was delighted about the transfer. "We are unbelievably proud and happy that we have secured an exceptional talent like Alex Marquez for us. He brings not only outstanding skill and race craft, but also determination and a winner's mentality that perfectly match our DNA," said the motorsport director. Beirer sees the Spaniard as a key figure in the team's bid for the world championship.

Beirer sees a key role for Marquez

In sporting terms, the move means Alex Marquez returns to a factory team after four years at the Ducati customer team. The KTM RC16, continuously developed in recent seasons, is to be brought into the circle of title contenders once and for all with the experience of the Vice World Champion.

Market observers see the transfer as a signal in the MotoGP factory rider puzzle. Honda and Ducati had also recently announced personnel changes, so the premier class will head into its next phase in 2027 with significantly altered rider pairings. With Marquez and Acosta, KTM is positioning itself as a duo combining experience and pace.

It remains unclear how the move will affect the internal hierarchy within the KTM camp. Acosta had previously been regarded as the undisputed No. 1 of the project; with a second Grand Prix winner in the team, however, the competition for the leadership role could intensify. Beirer spoke of a "Win-Win-Situation" for all involved in this context.

The official announcement came the day after the German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring, where the Spanish rider collected further points in his fight for the overall standings during the current season. The contract from 2027 initially runs for several years; KTM did not communicate an exact contract duration.